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Monday, August 1, 2016

Awakening creative joy

Artdog Quote of the Week
It's back-to-school season this month, and my focus now shifts to the vital importance of nurturing creativity in schools.

I'd like to tie this month's theme to last month's "strength in diversity" theme. I see the two as being intertwined. We cannot be strong in our diversity unless ALL of our children receive the best possible education.

Creative connections made in schools are some of the strongest motivators. As a teacher who's worked in both rural and urban schools, I can tell you that at-risk students who cannot find relevance in their schoolwork won't stay. If they don't stay, we all have failed.

But if they stay--if we engage them, intrigue them, give them interesting things to do and reasons to persevere--then the future opens up with ever more and greater possibilities and promise.